First attempt at Naruto, so do forgive me for any OOCness, should it be helped...then again, it's Semi-AU.
Disclaimers: I am in no way making any profits off this, and Naruto rightfully belong to its many owners of merchandise, etc---especially Kishimoto-san. Only thing that belongs to me is the plot.
That's the first and last disclaimers I'll put up. I'm too lazy to think of original ones to make for each chapter. I'm so much like Shikamaru. Look, clouds. Look, people ready to stab me with a spoon.
How troublesome.
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Predicament
Problem I
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When I first learnt of my newest assignment, I had two completely different reactions: one) resist the ever-building temptation of strangling my Sensei and the old geezer to death; two) whoop in joy.
Now you must be wondering what triggered such extreme reactions from your number-one Shinobi and Future-Hokage in Konoha Special Task Force Agency.
And the answer lies here...somewhere.
…
Just read and you'll see what I mean...at least I hope so.
Remember, this is totally, completely unbiased as in no propaganda from yours truly.
...I'll try to, anyways.
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"What! Are you serious, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto's eyes bulged in utter disbelief.
"Yes, I'm serious," nodded the older brunette, solemn expression tainted with a small smile.
"You expect me to baby-sit that spoiled, snobby, rich, 'I'm-rich-so-I'm-better-than-you' brat?"
"Now, now, Naruto-kun," tsked Iruka with a frown now. "He's about your age, so I think you two will get along just fine. And you're not 'baby-sitting' him, you're protecting him."
"From what exactly?" Naruto didn't look convinced. He had already seen his charge's picture, and from the first impression, the client certainly didn't look like he needed a bodyguard but rather a psychiatrist with his gloom-and-doom expression. "Against teen angst? Sorry, but that's the psych's specialty. Mine's the one where you have to go and kill people and do really, really important missions that requires my awesome Shinobi skills." The blond turned around, planning to leave the office until the door smacked opened on his face. "ITAIII!" Immediately, both his hand slapped over his bleeding nose, pouting at the figure that just entered, "Why didn't you knock, old man!"
Ignoring the pout thrown his way and the insult, the Third Hokage rolled his eyes. "You are going to do that assignment whether you like it or not, Naruto. And this office happens to be mine's." The older man strolled ahead of Iruka, white robe billowing gracefully behind him, and seated himself behind the desk filled with paper works, muttering, "Gone for a few minutes and the carpet is stained." Shaking his head, he pulled out his trusty pipe and lit it up. "You'll be his bodyguard 24/7 until the target is eliminated."
"WHAT! I said I wasn't gonna do it! Get Kakashi-sensei or Iruka-sensei to do it!" The youngest huffed indignantly, now having two pieces of tissue wadded up his nostrils. "They have nothing to do, so why not them!" His arm flailed to the brunette beside the oak desk with his arms crossed and another seated figure by the large window, engrossed with an orange book titled 'Icha Icha Paradise'.
"I'm a teacher, in case you've forgotten, Naruto-kun," Iruka pointedly glare at the teenager. "And I'm hardly ever called on for missions."
"And I'm on an assignment!" the silver-haired jounin chirped without peeling his single eye away from the novel.
The three other beings stared at the one called Kakashi.
"If you're on a mission, shouldn't you be gone?" Blue eyes looked at the elite Shinobi skeptically.
"Oh, I guess you're right." Nodding, Kakashii marked his place in the book, closed it and tucked it away within his vest. In seconds, he vanished in clouds of smoke that generated out of nowhere, leaving behind a single leaf in his place.
"You're still doing it, Naruto," stated the elder man, leafing through papers and manila folders with bored interest.
"C'mon old geezer!" said being whined childishly for a supposed sixteen year old that held the highest ranking next to the individual that vanished, in Konoha Special Task Force Agency. "Can't you get someone else?"
The Konoha Special Task Force was something like the FBI and CIA mixed together. Even though they are supported by Konoha City's government, most of its inhabitants don't even know the KSTFA exists, believing that it was the local police doing the good deeds. The headquarters was located in the heart of the large city, standing in front of the four huge carvings of the heads of the four previous Hokages of Konoha in the mountain, towering over the city with a sense of safety and protection. KSTFA were individuals, called Shinobis, or ninjas/kunoichi, whose works range from retrieving missing people and information to swift assassinations and espionages. That included body-guarding, too. Every year or so, only a carefully selected handful, either they be children or adults, are tested if they were worthy to be part of the organization by means of disguising it as if the individual won something of sorts and must fill out a questionnaire. For the physical part, the Agency would retrieve medical information through their many networks. (1)
"This assignment requires your level of skill, Naruto-kun," Iruka said wisely, knowing full-well how much the blond one liked to have his ego petted and inflate doubly. Plus, it was quicker to get the energetic teen to agree and have it be done with than taking an hour or so to persuade the stubborn blond...but then that would mean spending his check on paying Naruto's share of ramen---which happens to usually be six large bowls.
The teenage Shinobi ceased his whining once his self-esteem was blown up, now cockily grinning, "Why didn't you say so? Alright-y! I'll do it, old man! It better pay well since it has me in it!" Then, he added as an afterthought, "So all I gotta do is protect him until the threat's gone, right? It shouldn't take more than a week at most if Kakashi-sensei is the one behind the assassination!" Whipping around so he can point at the other man, "Iruka-sensei, you're treating me to ramen at Ichiraku's!"
"Wha---"
Before Iruka could even splutter out his surprise, the spontaneous blond vanished in a similar fashion to that of Kakashi.
With a defeated sigh, Iruka fished around in his pockets for his wallet, seeing if he had enough for the bottom-pit-for-a-stomach blond. Prior to even counting his money, muttering something akin to being broke before he even retires, the elderly man cleared his throat to catch the chuunin's attention with ease.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"I'll pay for it. Just tell the owner 'Bitter melon taste like pear'."
"Um, okay." Nodding his head unsurely, surprised that the elder even ate ramen, the teacher ventured a question, "Hokage-sama, how much is the client willing to pay?"
"He doesn't know about it."
"What? If that's so, then why...?"
"He needs it. He's the only one left."
"But isn't---"
"No. 'He' is not one of us. 'He' is the traitor. And I have a feeling 'he' will come back to finish him off."
"But why Naruto? Doesn't he need to know about"---he gesticulated with one hand---"all of this? And who's going to pay the fee?"
"Isn't Naruto waiting for you at Ichiraku's?" The Third Hokage opened another folder; eyes skimming the papers' content before scribbling a note down with a brush, even though there was a pen nearby. "If you're not there, he'll probably eat until his stomach explodes."
Iruka was about to protest at the abrupt change in subject before sharp black eyes wordlessly bore into his.
'Drop it.'
With much reluctance, the brunette disappeared on sight to meet up with his favorite pupil, who happened to be on his fifth bowl and going on for more.
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...Okay, so I exaggerated my reactions at the beginning of the story, but you get the drift though right?
Anyhow, I definitely think that I did waste all of Iruka-sensei's check that evening. Well, serve him right for making me wait for so long! What did he have to talk about the old geezer about, anyways? Oh, and I am so gonna get paid by the hour if I can help it. Better be enough so I can eat miso ramen everyday!
And my charge...He doesn't seem like the social one...
Oh, is he in for a rude awakening when Uzumaki Naruto enters the scene!
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End of Predicament
Pages: 3
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Welps, here you go! My first try and it came out rather well. Not sure I like the last part between Iruka and the Hokage...
Any errors either in spelling, grammars, or on Naruto, say so in the Reviews or drop me a line at khaotickiskei yahoo (dot) com
-EDIT- (2.3.06)
(1) Think of it as something similar to Naruto's world what with the ranking, training, etc, after the 'test'/recruiting thing.